BENSALEM, Pa. -- While New Jersey's phone-bet situation remains in a legislative limbo, the Phonebet service provided by Philadelphia Park is not only taking in an impressive amount of money on simulcast signals, but dispersing a large amount in host track fees, too.

According to statistics provided by the Bensalem oval, Phonebet wagering on simulcast signals in 2000 created $4,480,826 in host track fee payments, which is then divided between the host track and their horsemen.

At Philadelphia Park and its five Turf Clubs, bets placed on simulcast wagers in 2000 generated $9,764,682 in host track fees.

Although New Jersey horsemen benefit when a wager is placed through Phonebet on one of their races, they'd benefit even more when there's a phone-bet system in place within the Garden State.

IRON HORSE: The winningest horse of the year in standardbred racing for 2000 isn't a spring chicken, by any means.As a matter of fact, you could call Golden Fritz an old goat.

At age 12, Monticello Raceway-based Golden Fritz has racked up some pretty spiffy stats in his long career.Just check these out: 300 starts, 65 wins, 44 second and 41 thirds.Last year, as an 11-year-old, he won 23 races from 42 starts!

"He's raced a lot and he has the kind of ankles you would expect on an older racehorse, but I poultice him a lot and take him to Old Orchard Beach near Scarborough Downs and let him play in the ocean," said owner/trainer Gerry Smith."I'm hoping he'll be around a while longer.He has some idiosyncrasies and can be slightly cantankerous on the track.He's been around so long that he's had a lot of grooms; every time he races someone who's looked after him will come up and congratulate him-- HIM, not me!"

Smith said that he'll try and find a good home for Golden Fritz when his racing days are over.He's a stallion, but he doesn't plan on breeding him.

BIG BUCKS: Trotters and pacers at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford will be battling for nearly $800,000 in stakes purses this weekend, including nine winter series finals.

Red Bow Tie, 1998 Pacer of the Year and a local favorite, will be shooting for his third victory in the $101,000 Presidential Final on Saturday night.The horse, trained by Monte Gelrod, won the Presidential Final in both 1998 and 1999.

Saturday's card also features the $116,000 Complex, the $100,000 Clyde Hirt, the $100,000 Cape & Cutter and the $87,000 Junior Trendsetter.

The Clyde Hirt, formerly called the Chill Factor, was named after the Sports Eye executive columnist who died in July at age 73.

Linda Dougherty of Philadelphia has covered horse racing for The Trentonian for six years.You can reach her at bigtriple@aol.com.